At first glace it again looks like Paul is being prideful:
17 Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do.
But before we go off and say that he is being prideful, let me ask a question. Could you say this statement publicly?
“Follow my example”
I don’t know about you but that would be a tough thing to say publicly. There are parts of my life that I don’t want to say, “Follow my example.” In order to state something like this publicly you have to have the keen realization that you’re being watched and your actions matter. And you are living a life that you can tell anyone, “imitate me.”
So I guess until I can have confidence to say the same, I really don’t want to judge Paul here.
